Vehicle lamp



' 1,617,423 Feb. 15, 1927. E. 0' SE'TZ VEHICLE LAMP Filed March 26, 19252 sheets-Sheet 1 Gwen M1 1,617,423" E. O. SEITZ VEHICLE LAMP Feb. 15,1927.

7 Filed March 26 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 I I avumwh o r mast 0, Sag'fz Iammo/13 Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

ERNEST O. SEITZ, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN. ASSIGNOR TO C. IVI. HALL LAMP(10., OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN. 4

VEHICLE LAMP.

Application filed March 26, 1923. Scral No. 627,910.

The invention relates to vehicle lamps and has more particular referenceto a construction designed for use as a combined stop light and taillight.

It is'one of the objects of the invention to providemeans forilluminating the road in rear of the vehicle when it is being backed,Itis a further object to combine this illuminating means with a stoplight so that a single lamp may serve for both purposes. \Vith these andother objects in view the invention consists in the construction ashereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: I Figure l is an elevation of the lamp partly insection; p i

A Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section;

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views 01 the lamp casing and door orcover respectively.

A is the outer casing having arranged therein a pair of lamp sockets Band Q, these being preferably mounted on an insulator block D andprovided, with a common socket E for engaging a connector plug. Thesocket B is adapted to receive a relatively high candle power. lamp Ffor intermittent operation, while the socket C has a low candle lamp Grfor constant operation as a tail light. The two lamps are arranged indifferent compartments of the cas ing, preferably by formingan innercasing H which surrounds thesocket B and lamp -F and which extendsoutward into contact with the cover or door I. The'light from thelamp Gpasses through the lenses or colored glass J, which latter is preferablyof bulls-eye form so as to be visible notonly from the rear but alsofrom the sides of the vehicle. N

As usually installed, stop lights for vehicles are controlled by aswitch actuated by the brake pedal, so that whenever a brake is appliedthe stop signal will be flashed.

My improvedconstruction is designed to operate in a similar manner, butin addition to displaying the warning stop signal, I have provided meansfor illuminating the road in the rear of the car. This is particularlyadvantageous when the vehicle is to be backed, as it enables theoperator to ascertain whether the path is clear from obstruction.- hisusual to have the stop light display the word Stop in colored letters soadditional lamps, I have devised the following construction:

K is a prism which is placed in a pocket L formed in the bottom of theinner casing I-I beneath the lamp bulb F. M is a window in the cover Iarranged in front of the prism K. The form of the prism is so selectedthat the rays from the lamp F which pass downward are bent at thedesired angle to illuminate the road in rear of the vehicle Withoutshining upward or producing any glare.

The cover I is preferably-formed with a segmental panel N for the stoplight, the

window M beneath this panel and the bullseye J beneath the Window M.There is also preferably an opaque shield 0 adjacent to the panel N,said shield being cut out to display the word Stop.

With the construction as described, when the vehicle is running atuniform speed, the lamp G alone is illuminated, but when the brake pedalis operated, the stop signal is displayed. At the same time the road inrear of the vehicle is brightly illuminated, which is useful to thedriver of the following car in avoiding collision. Where it is desiredto back the car, the brake pedal is operated suiticiently to close theswitch and operate the lamp F, but it is not necessary in so doing toapply the brakes. This is for the reason that, as usually adjusted,there is considerable lost motion in the brake pedal, and therefore theswitch is closed before the brakes take effect. The rays from the lamp Fpassing through the prism will be directed at a predetermined anglewhich is selected so as to produce the best li hting effect.

In addition to the window openings in the cover of the lamp, there isprovidedan opening .Q at the bottom of the casing having the transparentpanel B throughwhich rays of white light will pass to illuminate thelicense number.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. In a vehicle lamp, the combinationwith the casing, of a plurality of lamp bulbs therein, an inner casingfor separating one of.

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the bulbs from the other, a cover for the outer casing having aplurality of window openings therein, one opposite said inner casingconstltutmg a stop slgnal, a bullsllt eye lens for another window intheouter easing, a third window inte'ri'nediate the windows aforesaid,and a 'prisln opposite said lHSt-lnlitlOIlBd Window for retractingrating said bulbs, a lens apposite one of said,

bulbs constituting a tail-light, a stop lens adjacent the other of saidbulbs, and means v associated with said casing for retracting the raysfrom saidistop light at the desired angle to'illuminate the road inrear'of the ehicle.

3. In a vehicle lamp, the combination with a casing, of a plural ty oflamp bulbs therein, a cover for said Easing, an inner casing forseparating said bulbs having a portion thereof bent downwardlycooperatingwvith the cover to form a pocket, a lcns'apposite the bulb inthe outer casing constituting a tail-light, a stop lens opposite thebulb in .the inner casing, a window in said cover positioned below saidstop lens,- and a prism located in said pocket for retracting lateralrays from the bulb in the inner casing in a downwardly inclineddirection through said window. 4

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ERNEST O. SEITZ

